This will probably get me in some hot water, but so be it... When I see comments like:
"...At my local train shows, NMRA is always there. NASG nevershows up. Oh they had a booth at Our Worlds Greatest Hobby Show, but we had to get some of our local (my club, Lone Star Flyer, Hurst Texas, and the Trinity Express S scale from Dallas) to man the booth. We had a lot of lookers at the booth, as it was set up close to my clubs Highrail layout we had there. The only S running layout. We did our part. If people won't join the NASG then maybe they should join the NMRA, and help get the word out that we are here. " I am reminded of a conversation many years ago, when I was much younger, with a old friend when we both part of another (not-train) volunteer organization. And I was whining about how people would not get up and promote the benefits fo the organization we were both part of. He advised me to stop whining, and get up and go look in a mirror to see exactly to whom I should be complaining about the situation. He rightly pointed out that unless and until I personally got out and did substantial promotion I had only myself to complain at. After all we were a volunteer organization and perhaps I should volunteer. And he said it in the most positive way! I feel like S promotion is much like that -- there are many many ways to accomplish promotion -- writing articles, build models and/or layouts and getting people to see them, staffing a booth at a show, etc. But in the end it is all about the volunteer and actually doing it. Not whining about it, not talking about it, but actually doing it! Honestly weekend train shows are a dime a dozen it seems. If someone wants to promote S at the local train show, it's an easy 3 step plan: 1) Call show manager and request free table to promote S scale 2) Show up and setup S models, etc. at the table 3) Show up and staff the table during the show and talk to those interested -- solicit some fellow S gaugers to share the load if available. Making up a simple handout on S and having a few displays is very helpful and easy and inexpensive to do. That's honestly all there is to it. And that is really all the NMRA does. Except that the local divisions have usually invested their volunteer's dues in a few fancy props to make the booth look more official. In a fairy tell world where the NASG was a for profit organization, it could still likely not do all the local shows, even with a big promotions budget. And the NASG is no where close to that. It doesn't even have paid staff, much level travel costs. What it can do, and does do, is help make some the props for the booth available at low or no charge. The NASG provides back issues of the Dispatch to distribute, and will provide some joining forms for members. And the NASG will loan a table cover for use (volunteer pays return mailing after the show) or provide a low cost table cover to local clubs to use and share in your coverage area. Similarly the S Scale SIG has promotion assistance as well. Local volunteers should bring models, displays (e.g., multi-scale freight cars, etc.), layout, etc. But in the end it all comes down to volunteer(s) -- someone to contact the show manager and ask for the free table (I personally have never had a such a request turned down), set up the tables with props, and then staff the table during the entire show -- show managers do not like unattended tables (perhaps save for the necessary bio break), and of course foot the bill for the transportation costs to and from the show. And quite frankly this is where it breaks down -- finding people willing to give up a Saturday or even a Saturday and a Sunday to promote S. That is what it really takes. Sure our club does a few shows a year -- all supportive of promoting the model railroad hobby, S gauge/scale, and our club's great layout. We get a great response and S interest in every show we do. But at the end of the day as a club we say we don't have the staffing or finances to do more shows per year. And large modular layouts are a big undertaking for shows. This creates opportunities for individual volunteers to fill in the gaps. The rest of the time most all of us go to other shows during the year and lament the fact that no one is promoting (fill in the blank: S, NASG, S Scale SIG, etc.) at the show. When the real question should be (assuming promotion is important to you) -- why didn't I get a table to do promotion at this show???? And what steps WILL I (not CAN I) take now to make sure that there is a promotional table at the next 3 or 5 or 10 shows in my area???? Or if you feel you can't manage and staff a table entirely by yourself, join with a buddy or two to do it. Or join the NMRA and show up and staff the NMRA booth at the local shows. Imagine if S scale modelers were a large participating group in the local NMRA organizations, NMRA train show booths, etc. You'd be surprised how much that alone would grow the visibility of S! Alas much like armchair modelers, I'm afraid in reality most of us are armchair promoters, and even the armchair is not at a show! It is only when collectively WE as a group of volunteers step up that we will actually make progress on this! Remember we are S, the S Scale SIG, the NMRA, and the NASG! Exactly what public activities (i.e., those activities which put you in front of modelers in other scales) are you willing to commit to to promote S? Will you write and submit for publication an article showcasing S modeling? If you have an S scale layout will you host an open house? Will you build S models and visit some local modeler's meets with them? Will you contact the local show organizer to arrange/staff an S table at an upcoming show (alone or with a buddy)? Fill the blanks: In the next (30/60/90) ______ days I will do the following to promote S: ____________________________________________________________________ Imagine if everyone on this mail list would post in every 60-90 day period one activity that each person did to promote S! Imagine the increase in S presence that alone would generate! Regards Michael Sent from my iPad On Feb 19, 2013, at 12:00 AM, Alan Lambert <[email protected]> wrote: > > > From: Alan Lambert > Fort Worth, Texas > > Brooks, > > I agree with you. I have at my side the July 2011 NMRA magazine. The one > where you had the article about detailing a Pacific Steamer. That article let > NMRA know we "s scale" are out there. I get the magazine through my brother. > I also get the NASG dispatch magazine. At my local train shows, NMRA is > always there. NASG nevershows up. Oh they had a booth at Our Worlds Greatest > Hobby Show, but we had to get some of our local (my club, Lone Star Flyer, > Hurst Texas, and the Trinity Express S scale from Dallas) to man the booth. > We had a lot of lookers at the booth, as it was set up close to my clubs > Highrail layout we had there. The only S running layout. We did our part. If > people won't join the NASG then maybe they should join the NMRA, and help get > the word out that we are here. > Alan Lambert > > > From: bcgsteam <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Monday, February 18, 2013 9:33 PM > Subject: {S-Scale List} S Gaugers in the NMRA > > There have been a few postings recently about why the NMRA doesn't do more > for S gauge...sell track gauges, offer convention cars, etc. Dan Vandermause > and Gaylord Gil have commented on the value, and power, of sharing S to other > modelers through NMRA open houses, op sessions, etc. From my experience, I > agree completely. What I've always wondered is why more active S gaugers > aren't involved in the NMRA. I've learned more about model railroading since > I've become active in the NMRA than in the years before I got involved. And > far more modelers in other scales have seen and operated my S layout...and > perhaps learned something about S from me...than before I was active in the > NMRA. If those of us who are ALREADY in S are not active members in our local > NMRA clubs and activities, we are missing a good opportunity to help members > now in other scales to learn the ins and outs of S and eventually want those > track gauges and convention cars. While the NASG is a GREAT organization and > does MUCH to promote S, it tends to keep S and S gaugers isolated from the > broader hobby. The NMRA is not a HO or N organization, of course. We each > might want to consider what we can do to be sure that S is not > underrepresented within the NMRA organizations and activities in our local > areas. S will be better for it. I know there are many demands on our hobby > time and money, but I've found the two-way dialog with modelers in other > scales extremely valuable. Just a thought.... > > Brooks Stover > > > > > >
